Dita Eibenová
 | Dita Eibenová Project manager, member of the dramaturgical committee Dita Eibenová studied Italian at the Silesian University, Opava. Since her studies she has been involved as an organiser and founder of several cultural projects, including:
Dita Eibenová has worked as the grant manager and a member of the grant committee at the Foundation for Holocaust Victims in Prague (2001 – 2002). She has also taught Italian at the University of Ostrava. Why should Ostrava be Capital of Culture 2015? And why am I involved in the project? I found out about Ostrava’s bid for Capital of Culture from friends, just when we were leaving Ostrava for a major cultural event held elsewhere. Ostrava and culture? Capital of culture?! The idea seemed absurd to me. A city whose orchestra has not had its own home for decades, where there is no city art gallery, where architectural competitions are almost unheard of, where a wonderful historical building – the former slaughterhouse – lies derelict in the heart of the city, where there is not even one proper coffee-and-cakes shop in the city centre, and where emissions levels frequently exceed legal limits? Yes, Ostrava has wonderful top-class art, but is that enough to ensure victory? Later I found out more about the Capital of Culture, and learned that it was a highly successful and worthwhile development project. When I discovered that cities such as Lille, Glasgow and Liverpool had gained long-term systemic benefits from Capital of Culture status, and when I found out about the goals and visions of Košice 2013, I was convinced that the project offers a unique opportunity (perhaps the only opportunity in my lifetime) to help Ostrava offer a better, more joyful life to its people. For culture to take root in the city, to emerge here, and to live here sustainably. For culture to be a part of our everyday lives. For us to become more confident, and more aware. And – for entirely pragmatic reasons – for my own life in this city, I need Ostrava’s bid to succeed. Dita Eibenová 1. 3. 2009 <<< back |
